Tips from videos lead Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office to suspect identification and arrests

Detectives are now looking for 26 year-old Melissa Linder who may be living in Lake Stevens and is wanted for identity theft, forgery and possession of stolen property. Photo credit: Snohomish County Sheriff's Office.

By Shari Ireton, Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office Director of Communications.

Tips came in from the public after three YouTube videos were posted by the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office and led to the identification of four criminal suspects and two arrests.

On November 5, 2013, the Sheriff’s Office was looking for help in identifying a man and woman from surveillance footage compiled in a video (“Suspects on a Shopping Spree”).

The two were suspected of using stolen credit cards and a checkbook to go on a $1,500 shopping spree at the Seattle Premium Outlet Mall. Information from the public led to the identification of both suspects and the arrest of a 32 year-old Granite Falls man, as well as the recovery of some stolen items.

Detectives in this case are now looking for 26 year-old Melissa Linder who is believed to be the female in the video. Linder may be living in Lake Stevens and is wanted for identity theft, forgery and possession of stolen property.

In a second video released by the Sheriff’s Office on November 6th (“Burglars Rob Snohomish Home”), two men are seen to be burglarizing a home, making off with several items including high-power rifles and ammunition.

Within 24 hours of the release of the video more than 25 tips came in from the public identifying one suspect as a 27 year-old Monroe man. Detectives were able to also identify the second suspect as his 22 year-old brother. Both cases have been referred to the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office with a charging recommendation of 1st degree burglary.

The most recent video posted on December 9th (“Suspects Wanted in Cabbie Assault”) showed two suspects attempting to force a victim, whom they had beaten and robbed, to withdraw cash from and ATM in a convenience store. Tips from the public helped Sheriff’s Office deputies locate the 27 year-old black male suspect who was booked into jail for 1st degree robbery and he has provided additional information about the robbery to detectives.

Detectives in this case are still looking to identify the white male suspect in the video. He is known to frequent the area near 164th Street near I-5 west of Mill Creek and may live or have acquaintances in that area. It is believed he frequently travels by transit bus and may go by the name of “Jack.”

“Using social media like YouTube to aid in fighting crime is proving to be a powerful tool for our agency,” said Sheriff Ty Trenary.

“It also has helped us establish a new way to communicate with the public who can be our eyes and ears in the community. Working together, we continue to make Snohomish County a safer place.”

Anyone with information about any of these cases is asked to call the Sheriff's Office Anonymous Tip Line at 425-388-3845.